Rotatable cylinder



MW. 12, 1963 c. WILHELM ROTATABLE CYLINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4,1960 war/a" five/"177, B Qkw Nov. 12, 1963 w 3,110,107

ROTATABLE CYLINDER Filed May 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patet 3,110,107 RGTATABLE CYLER Charles Wilhelm,Baederwood, Pa. (.lenkintown, Pa.)

Filed May 4, 1960, Ser. No. 26,819 3 Claims. (Cl. 33-21) This inventionrelates to rotatable work surfaces. More particularly, this inventionrelates to cylindrical working surfaces adaptable to a variety ofpurposes such as drafting, the laying out of maps and designs, or thestripping of film for offset printing and the like.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide apparatus havingan adjustable working surface, whereby a large layout or otherwork-piece for map making, olfset printing, drafting, and the like,which is contained upon said surface, may be moved at the will of theoperator so that the specific portions of the layout are made availableto the operator for working purposes without disturbing any otherportion of said layout.

it is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the kindreferred to wherein calibrating and locking means are provided forprecise measurement and control of the work-pieces contained upon theworking surface of said apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus having meansfor retaining large work-pieces upon the working surfaces thereof,whereby the use of pins, clarnps or similar devices may be avoided.

It is mother object of this invention to provide apparatus having meansfor illuminating transparencies contained on the work surface thereof,whereby the transposition and placing of photographic film and the likemay be expeditiously efi'ectuated.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will becomeapparent hereinafter and in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a drafting apparatus as provided inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section of a part of the apparatus taken asindicated by the lines and arrows Il-ll of FIG. 1;

MG. 3 is a view in cross-section of a part of the apparatus taken asindicated by the lines and arrows Ill-ill of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of an element of the apparatus indicatedgenerally by the numeral IV of FIG. 1 and illustrating one specificarrangement thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the same element of the apparatusshown in FIG. 4 and illustrating another specific arrangement thereof;and,

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the same element shown in FIG. 4 andillustrating still another s ecific arrangement thereof.

The following description is directed to the specific form of theapparatus as shown in the drawings and is not intended to be addressedto the scope of the invention itself, which is capable of beingpracticed in a wide vmiety of forms and arrangements.

Adverting herewith to the specific form of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, the numeral 19 designates a cylindrical drum supported atopposite ends by stands 11 and 12, as seen in FIG. 3, and is arrangedfor rotation about an axis generally parallel to the floor. Thecylindrical shell 13 of the drum is preferably made of plastic, but maybe comprised of any suitable rigid and translucent material. Integralwith the cylindrical shell 13, are covers 14 and 15, each of whichcontain circumferential calibrations l6 and 17, respectively, at theinner edge thereof adjacent the plastic shell 13, the purpose of whichwill be explained more fully hereinice after. A fitting 18' is securedin axial alignment to the face of the disc or end cover 14, an extensionof which forms a hollow axle l9 journaled in bearing 20 supported by thestand 11. Attached on the periphery of the fitting 18 is a gear 21arranged for engagement with another worm-type gear 22. Worm gear 22 isattached to a shaft 25 extending from a gear reducer 26 and a reversiblemotor 27. Drive motor 27 is controlled by a forward drive switch 28, anda reverse drive switch 29 for operation of the apparatus in a manner tobe more fully explained hereinafter.

As may best be seen in FIG. 3, end cover 15 of the drum 1% is formedwith a circular protruding flange 30 which fits concentrically about theouter circumference of a smaller, similarly outwardly extending flange31 formed in a stationary plate 32. The plate 32 is supported from thestand 12 by means of a hollow cylindrical fitting 33 which is itselfsecured to plate 3-2 by bolts 34-.

Circumferentiailly disposed adjacent the periphery of the fixed plate 32are electrical sockets 35 for the retention of fluorescent lightingtubes 36 which extend longitudinally along the cylindrical wall or shell13 generally parallel to the axis of the drum it].

As may be seen in FIG. 1, a vacuum pump 38 having a pump motor 39 inassociation therewith, is connected to pipe or tubing ill which passesthrough the fittings 33 and the fixed plate 32 through openings 41 and42, respectively provided for that purpose, and extends into theinterior of the drum 1%. Inwardly of the fixed plate 32 there isprovided a fitting 43 for the support of the pipe 4% coaxia'lly with thedrum ill. The pipe is provided with a transverse section 44 terminatingin a flange 45 secured to a rectangular trough 4-6 provided adjacent theplastic shell 13. The trough 46 is provided with flanges 47 which areretained in contact with the inner side of the shell 13 by opposedretaining flanges or lips 48 which are themselves secured to theinterior surface of the plastic shell 13. It will be clear that thetrough 46 forms an annular channel adjacent the interior circumferenceof the shell 13 and that the aforesaid channel communicates with thepiping 40 so that a vacuum can be drawn on the aforesaid channel bymeans of a vacuum pump 38 in a manner and for a purpose to be explainedmore fully hereinafter. Exterior of the drum 10 the pipe or tubing lliis provided with a valve 49 by means of which communication betweenvacuum pump 38 and trough 45 may be closed off or opened, therebyalternatively closing off or drawing vacuum on the channel formed by theaforesaid trough 46 as desired.

The outer surface of the cylindrical shell 13 is provided with a spiralgroove 50 which communicates with -a hole 51 extending through theplastic shell 13 and opening into the channel formed by the trough 46.

As may best be seen in FIG. 1, a calibrated bar 54 ex- I tends along theentire length of the drum 10 exterior thereof and is supported atopposite ends in fittings 55 and 56 into which are respectivelyconnected transverse supporting rods 57 and 53 located at the oppositeends of the drum parallel to the surface of the end covers 14 and 15.The rods 57 and 58 are respectively set in rotatable fittings 59 and 61i positioned coaxially with respect to the drum it). Fitting 59 isprovided with a set screw 62 which may be loosened or tightened tosecure the calibrated bar 54 in position as desired. Forward of therotatable drum it? there is provided a work shelf 63 supported atopposite ends by support posts 64 and 65 which in turn stand upon aheavy platform 66. At opposite ends of the work shelf 63 scale pointers6S and 69 are provided on the stands '79 and '71, respectively, forindicating the position of the calibrated end covers 14 and 15. A chairnection with the processes of offset printing.

75 is mounted on a platform 76 which is provided with rollers 77 and 78arranged to roll along rails '79 and 80 back and forth in front of therotatable cylinder 18.

Mounted on the bar 54 and arranged for sliding movement backward andforward thereon is a pair of holders 85 and 86 designed to retain avariety of implements as illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 6. The holder 85comprises a cylindrical sleeve 87 which has an inner dimension 88 shapedto fit and conform to the outer dimension of the aforesaid bar 54.Mounted to the top surface of the sleeve87 is a lock lever 89 having adepending flange 95 which is normallyurged into one of the grooves 91 inthe top surface of the calibrated bar 54 by a spring 92 mounted on thescrew 93 set into a threaded hole 94 in the sleeve 87. The lock lever 89is secured to the top surface of the sleeve 87 by means of a screw 95'.Extending from the surface of the sleeve 37 is a lug 97 having acircular opening 98 for the reception of a retaining element 99 ofsuitable size and dimension to fit the aforesaid openings. The retainingelement 99 is secured in the opening 98 by means of a tightened screw161. Retaining element 99 is also provided with a circular opening 102for the shank of a working tool which may be inserted thereinto andsecured in said opening by means of tightening a screw 103 extendinginto a threaded opening in the retaining element 99 at right angles tothe shank-receiving opening 102. FIG. 4 illustrates the manner in whicha pencil or stylus 105 may be retained in the holders 85 and 86; FIG. 5illustrates the manner in which a ruling pen 106 may be retained in theaforesaid holders; and FIG. 6 illustrates the manner in which a knife107 may be similarly retained.

FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate one manner of use of the apparatus as providedin accordance with this invention, as for example, the stripping of filmon acetate in con- Ordinarily when the invention is used in suchconnection, a plastic sheet 110 is wound upon the drum cylinder 13adjacent the grooves 50 and the valve 49 is opened and a vacuum drawn onthe aforesaid grooves by means of the pump 38. The plastic sheet 110, asa result of the atmospheric pressure on the outer surface thereof,adheres closely to the surface of the cylinder 13. In the strippingprocess, a rectangular cut-out 111 is made in the plastic sheet 110 anda layout sheet 112 is placed over the aforesaid cutout. Precisepositioning of the layout sheet is made possible by means ofcalibrations 16 and 17 of the end covers 14 and 15. Further cut-outs 113are made in the layout sheet and over these is placed a stripping sheet114, all as may be seen in FIG. 1. It will be clear that the aforesaidcut-outs may be made by means of a knife 167 disposed in the holder 85or 86 and that the cut-outs may be made with the greatest possibleprecision by positioning the holder as desired on the calibrated bar 54and locking it into position by means of the lock lever 89. The drumcylinder may then be turned to the specific position desired either bymeans of the forward switch or the reverse switch and the exact positionof the cylinder indicated by means of the scale pointers 68 and 69. Whenit is desired to adjust the position of the calibrated bar 54 backwardor forward, advantage is taken of the rotatable fitting 59 by looseningthe set screw 62 so that the arms 57 and 58 may be raised or lowered asdesired and then secured in position by again tightening the screw 62.

It will be evident that it is an important advantage of the inventionthat very large drawings, plans, maps,

and the like up to twenty feet or more in length may be handled andworked upon with relative ease and facility.

it will be further apparent that it is another significant advantage ofthe invention that it eliminates all need for T-squares and trianglesfor accurate measurement in stripping film on acetate and the like, and,furthermore, faciiitates perfect register of the work-pieces, which isessential when doing color work and the like in the offset printingprocesses.

Although this invention has been disclosed with references to specificforms and embodiments thereof; it will be evident that a great number ofvariations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthis invention. For example, parts may be reversed, equivalent elementsmay be substituted for those specifically disclosed, and certainfeatures of the invention may be used independently of other features,all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A drafting apparatus comprising in combination a translucentcylindrical shell journaled for rotation between a pair of verticalstandards, drive means including a reversible motor axially connected tosaid shell and arranged for rotating said shell in forward and reversedirections, the shell having a spiral groove formed in the exteriorsurface thereof and communicating with the shell interior to a vacuumline extending to the exterior of said shell, a vacuum pump connected tothe line exterior of the shell, a plurality of lighting tubes disposedadjacent the interior surface of the shell, indicator means mountedadjacent an end of the shell and arranged for positioning the shell, andsupport means adjustably disposed adjacent the exerior surface of theshell along its length for precise positioning of tools adjacent thesurface.

2. The drafting apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said support meanscomprises a calibrated bar extending longitudinally from one end of saidshell to the other end thereof, said bar being supported at the endsthereof by movable rods mounted in rotatable fittings affixed to saidvertical standards and an implement holder attached to said rod, saidholder being adapted to lock into position in a plurality of locationsalong said bar, said bar being formed with a plurality of grooves in thesurface thereof, said grooves being in one to one correspondence withthe calibrated scale markings of said bar, said holder including a locklever arranged to enter each of said grooves as desired.

3. The drafting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the indicatormeans comprises a circumferential scale mounted on the exterior surfaceof the shell at an end thereof and a scale pointer fixed in positionadjacent the scale.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,041,028 Church Oct. 15, 1912 1,288,607 Jobke Dec. 24, 1918 1,569,938Gresley Ian. 19, 1926 1,627,205 Seaborne May 3, 1927 1,705,005 DouthittMar. 12, 1929 1,886,929 Abbott Nov. 8, 1932 2,414,606 Page Jan. 21, 19472,567,049 Belluche Sept. 4, 1951 2,674,062 Tull Apr. 6, .1954 2,753,181Anander July 3, 1956 2,895,706 Blatherwick July 21, 1959

1. A DRAFTING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A TRANSLUCENTCYLINDRICAL SHELL JOURNALED FOR ROTATION BETWEEN A PAIR OF VERTICALSTANDARDS, DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING A REVERSIBLE MOTOR AXIALLY CONNECTED TOSAID SHELL AND ARRANGED FOR ROTATING SAID SHELL IN FORWARD AND REVERSEDIRECTIONS, THE SHELL HAVING A SPIRAL GROOVE FORMED IN THE EXTERIORSURFACE THEREOF AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE SHELL INTERIOR TO A VACUUMLINE EXTENDING TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SHELL, A VACUUM PUMP CONNECTED TOTHE LINE EXTERIOR OF THE SHELL, A PLURALITY OF LIGHTING TUBES DISPOSEDADJACENT THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE SHELL, INDICATOR MEANS MOUNTEDADJACENT AN END OF THE SHELL AND ARRANGED FOR POSITIONING THE SHELL, ANDSUPPORT MEANS ADJUSTABLY DISPOSED ADJACENT THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THESHELL ALONG ITS LENGTH FOR PRECISE POSITIONING OF TOOLS ADJACENT THESURFACE.